When Strangers Marry Read Free

even a nasty death in a Louisiana bayou, would be preferable to a lifetime of Etienne Sagesse.
    “Come, don’t take all day,” the boy named Justin said impatiently. Lysette struggled against him, but his lanky arms were surprisingly strong. He tightened his grip until she subsided with a gasp of pain.
    “ Mon Dieu , it’s not necessary to hurt her,” Philippe said.
    “I didn’t hurt her,” Justin replied indignantly. “I just squeezed her a little.” He gave Lysette a warning glance. “And I will do it again if she doesn’t make up her mind now.”
    Numbly Lysette looked from the imperious dark face of the boy who held her to the lighter one of the boy nearby. They were identical twins, she realized. The one called Philippe seemed a little gentler, and there was a trace of compassion in his blue eyes that she sensed was absent in the other. It was possible that she could convince him to release her.
    “You,” she said desperately, looking at Philippe.
    “ Him? ” Justin scoffed, letting her feet drop to the ground. He shoved her toward his brother with a contemptuous snort. “There, Philippe, do as you please. I didn’t want her anyway.” He scooped up the bundle on the ground and searched through it, discovering a handful of coins tied in a handkerchief, a rolled-up dress, and an amber comb.
    Unable to stop her momentum, Lysette staggered against the other boy. His steadying hands came toher narrow shoulders. “What is your name?” he asked.
    His voice was unexpectedly kind. Lysette chewed the insides of her cheeks and shook her head, while her eyes stung with sudden tears. She despised herself for the moment of weakness, but she was exhausted and starving, and she was nearly at her wits’ end.
    “Why were you taking the pirogue?” Philippe asked.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. Let me go—I won’t bother you again.”
    Philippe’s gaze took a detailed tour from her head to her feet. Lysette withstood the inspection with resignation. Even at her best, she had never been called a great beauty. Now, after her sojourn through the swamp, she was muddy and strongsmelling.
    As the boy gazed at her, he seemed to come to a decision. “Come with me,” he said, grasping her wrists. “If you are in trouble, we may be able to help you.”
    Lysette was filled with instant alarm. She suspected the boy intended to bring her to his parents. Then it would only be a matter of hours before she was delivered to the Sagesse household. “No, please ,” she begged, pulling at her imprisoned arms.
    “You have no choice.”
    She shoved at him as hard as she could, jabbing with her elbows and knees. He defeated her with humiliating ease. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Philippe said, swinging her over his shoulder andlocking his arm behind her knees. She gave a scream of mingled rage and despair as she flailed helplessly against his back.
    Justin watched his brother with a sardonic frown. “Where are you taking her?”
    “To Father.”
    “ Father? What are you doing that for? He’ll only make you let her go.”
    “It’s the right thing to do,” Philippe said matter-of-factly.
    “Idiot,” Justin muttered underneath his breath, but he followed reluctantly as his brother carried their new acquisition from the bank of the bayou.
    Lysette went limp halfway up the incline, deciding it would be wiser to save the strength she had left to face whatever fate was in store for her. There was no way she was going to escape the clutches of these two arrogant boys. She closed her eyes, feeling sick.
    “Don’t carry me upside down,” she said thickly. “I will be ill if you do.”
    Justin spoke up from behind them. “She does look rather green, Philippe.”
    “Really?” Philippe stopped and let Lysette’s feet slide to the ground. “Would you like to walk?”
    “Yes,” Lysette said, stumbling a little. The brothers each took an arm, guiding her forward. Dazed, she looked from right to left, realizing the